Balanced crane or derrick.



W. F. BROTHERS.

BALANCED CRANE 0R DERRICK. APPLICATION FILED MAR 9. 1914. RENEWED APR.12,1917.

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BALANCED CRANE OR DERRICK. APPLICATION FILED Mme, 1914. nsnzwzo APR. 12.1911.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

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Fi .3 37 36 J 35 I v 7X 23 /6' /7 /6 32 122 i j I? 1 A u A 20 i 27 2? 1/41 /a /Afi a 4 a /3 Z 4 /3 /3 f E 0 Li 1 a 1/ 5] vwe niioz EMT WILLIAMFRANKLIN BRornERs, or BROOKLYN, NEW YoRK.

BALANCED CRANE 0R DERRICK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

- Application filed March 9, 1914, Serial No. 823,349. Renewed April 12,1917. Serial No. 161,678.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, VVILLIAB'I F. Bnorriass, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, Stateof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in BalancedCranes or Derricks, of which the following is a description.

The object of this invention is the production of a crane or derrickconstructed and arranged whereby its parts arerin equilibrium orcounterbalanced relation, whether the crane or derrick be loaded orunloaded.

More particularly my invention is directed to cranes or derricks havinga base and operating parts-related to said base whereby such operatingparts in the positions of raising and lowering or transferring the loadare in balanced equilibrium. More specifically my invention: in certainparticular forms thereof, comprises a support, 'a counterweight base,said base being pivotally carried by said support, a boom pivotallyconnected with said counterweight base, and chains or the like passingover the. free end of said boom together with means for operating thechains whereby to raise or lower the load. Preferably, such support ismounted to be movable on a fixed or movable support, such as the truckor platform of a car, a foundation or. the like, and the chain operatingmeans is carried on the base. Preferably, also, the effective distanceof the free end of the pivoted boom from the pivotal center of thecounterweight base, is arranged to be variable as by means of chains orthe like operated by suitable actuating means. By reason of theconstruc-. tion and arrangement of my invention, cranes and derricksembodying my invention. are operated without requiring any support orbracing other than thatafforded by the platform of the car or thefoundation, etc., on which the crane may be carried or placed. v

Other features and objects of my inven tion will be more fullyunderstood from the following description and accompanying drawings inwhich I Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of a crane embodying myinvention suitable as a locomotive crane Fig. 2 is a side view of thecrane shown in Fig. 1 in the position of raising a load;

"Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are side elevations of modifications. 1

Referring to Figs. 1, Qand 3, the support 1 of the crane is shownmounted on a central step 2 and rollers 3, 3 to be rotatable on theplatform 4, of a railway car or truck. The standards 5, 6 are fixed attheir lower ends to the movable support 1, and carry the shaft 7 attheir upper ends. The counterweight base 8 is hung by arms 9, 10 fromthe shaft 7. As shown, the arms 9, 10'are pivoted at opposite pivotsll,12 to counterweight base 8 proximate the central line thereof. The,counterweight base '8 is designedly weighted to a predetermined weight,or constructed to have any desired variable weight up to a predeterminedmaximum, dependent upon the maximum load and other conditions aswillmore fully appear hereinafter. As also shown and as more fullydescribed hereinafter, the weight of the counterweight base 8 mayinclude the operating drum or drums,the actuating 'motor or motors, andthe source of power such as a boiler if the game be desired to be used,and such other, auxiliary means as may be employed, and thecounterweight base is arranged to provide for sufficient space forcarrying the said parts.

The boom 13 is shown pivoted to counterweight base 8 at the oppositepivots 11, 12 alongthe vcentral line of said base. 8; such constructionof common pivotal means for the counterweight suspension means and theboom pivotal means affords simplified construction, though of course,said two pivotal means may be separate. The boom 13' is shown as of ageneral V-shaped frame comprising outer members 14;, 15, with transverse'bracemembers 16, and latticed cross members 17. i l

The distance of the free end of the boom 13 from the pivots of arms 9,10, maybe controlled, as shown, by the chains or rope 18 operated bysuitable controlling mechanism. In these figures I have indicated thechain or rope 18 secured at one end to the dead eye 19 carried byshaft'7, said chain or rope 18 extending over the sheave 20 carried byshaft 21 disposed at the free end of the boom 13, and passing thenceover the sheave with respect to speed and direction of-rotation by thecontrol lever 25 and suitable regulating apparatus. By operating thedrum 23 to wind thereon the chain or rope 18, the. effective distancebetween the free end of boom 13 and the pivots of arms 9, 10, will beshortened; likewise, when the chain or rope 18 is unwound from the drum23, the effective distance of the free end of boom 13 from the pivotsor' arms 9, 10 will be increased.

I have shown the hoisting chain or rope 26 controlled by the drum 2?shown also operated by the motor 2i geared thereto by suitable gearingand regulating arrangement for deriving variable rotation in speed andin direction. As indicated, one end of the hoisting chain or rope 26 maybe secured to the drum 2?, the chain or rope 26 thence passing over thesheave 29 carried by shaft 21 disposed at the free'end of boom 13, oversheave 30 of block 31, thence passing over the sheave 32 carried byshaft 21 and finally having its other end secured to the "dead eye 33 onblock 31. The block 31 is shown provided with the hook 3a to facilitateattachment thereto of the load. By mounting the sheaves 29 and 32carrying the hoisting chain or rope 26 on shaft 21 and on opposite sidesof the sheave 20, 'carrying the chain or rope 18, also mounted on shaft21, the thrust of the load borne by the load chain or rope 26 will bebalanced with respect to the boom or frame 13, and stresses tending totwist or distort the boom or frame 13 will be precluded.

l have shown the support 1 as provided with a circumferential rackcooperating with the gear 36 driven by the motor .3? whereby thecircular support 1 may be turned in either direction by suitably controlling the motor 37. It will be understood that the same motor may beemployed for turning the movable support 1 as well as for operating thedrum 23 and the drum 2?; also, if desired, it will be clear thatseparate motors may be employed for separately driving the drum 28 andthe drum 2?.

The operation of the crane shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 will be understoodfrom the description hereinbefore set forth taken in connection with thefollowing. After suitably operating the drum 2?) to secure, thepositioning of the boom 13 with respect to the load to be raised, theblock 31 is then lowered by letting out the hoisting chain or rope 26and the load is then secured to the-hook As soon as any appreciablestrain is exerted in the hoisting chain or rope 26 upon operating thedrum 27 to wind thereon the chain or rope 26, such strain will tend tomove the counterweight base from the vertical plane away from the load,as is indicated in 2. Upon further increase in tension in the hoistingchain or rope 26, the counterweight base 8 will move farther and fartherfrom the vertical until the load has been raised and is wholly carriedby the hoisting chain or rope 26. During such movement of the crane, theoperating parts will be at all times in counterbalanced position wherebythere is no tendency otsupport 1 or the standards 5, 6, carried therebyto be tilted or otherwise displaced from the vertical. Such relationshipof the cooperating parts of my inven tion obviates the necessity of guyropes or other lateral supporting or bracing means. The degree to whichthe counterweight is moved from the vertical when the load is whollycarried by the hoisting chain or rope, will be dependent on the weightof the load, the weight or the counterweight and the effective distanceof the sheave of the boom from the pivot of the counterweight.

In the specific crane illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, l have show-nthecounterweight or counterweightbase to be suspended by being pivoted in aplane passing. throughits cen. ter of gravity, and the drum, motor andsuch other operating devices disposed on the counterweight base so thatthe counterweight base remains substantially horizontal. This conditionwill still obtain notwithstanding movement of the operator overthecounterweight base or the varying weights of (litterent operators,who may operate the" crane,

since the combined weight of such devices and the counterweight baseitself will ordinarily be ample to prevent any material deviation of thecounterweight base from the horizontal plane. 7

Much construction 18 pieiei able when it desired to install a boiler onthe counterweight base, in which case it is desirable to maintainhorizontal condition of the counterweight base. In such cases where thecrane is made portable or otherwise capable of being bodily transported,it is desirable to lock the counterweight 8 to prevent the same frombeing set in vibration. Such tendency toward vibration will be preventedby reeling in the boom 13 until the boom 13'comes into contact with theshaft 7 or, if desired, a suitablelocki-ng means such as the latchcomprising the hook 38 carried by the standard 5 and latch bar 37carried by the counterweight 8 may be employed.

In Fig. t I have shown the counterweight or counterweight base 8 to besuspended from oppositely disposed cables to, -lO respectively, passingabout the grooved rollers ll, il, carried by shaft 7 and about groovedrollers 42, e2, pivoted or otherwise secured to the counterweight orcounterweight base 8. Under certain circumstances, the counterweightbase may be suspended by .rms rigidly secured thereto, in which case thecounterweight base will departfrom "the horizontal plane when deflectedlaterally by the load. Such construction is indicated in Fig. 5, whereinthe counterweight is suspendedby means of the frame which is fixed atits lower end to counterweight base Sand pivoted at its upper. end toshaft 7. In Fig. 5, the boom 13 is indicated as pivoted to thecounterweight 8 at points without the central line thereof, or out ofthe plane passing through the center of gravity of the counterweight.However, the boom maybe pivoted on the central line and in the plane ofthe center of gravity of the counterweight when the counterweight ishung from suspension arms which are rigidly connected to thecounterweight.

It will be understood that the counterweight may be varied in weight byforming the counterweight of a body or frame to which may be addedadditional weighting parts to increase the counterweight effect; suchparts may be taken off to lessen the counterweight efi'ectto any desiredamount. The types of crane shown in the drawings are adapted to be thusvaried in counterweight effect; thus, in the form of my invention shownin Fig. 4c, the length of the suspension cables 40,40, may be varied inaccordance with the .mass of the counterweight. The counterweight mayalso be built in the form of a tank the interior of which may be filledmore or less with a weighting substance such as water, sand, etc.

In Fig. 6 I have shown another form of my invention comprising a supportof concave or saucer-shaped construction mounted on a railway car bymeans of the central step 51, and adapted to be rotated by means of thecircular rack 52. The countel-weight 53 is supported by the support 50,preferably by the use of bearing rollers 54. The boom 55 is pivoted tothe counterweight 53, the free end of the boom 55 being controlled bythe chain or rope 56, having one end secured to the dead eye 57, and theother end wound on the operating drum 58. The chain or rope 59 forraising and lowering the load passes from the operating drum over thesheave 60, thence through the block 61 and finally to the dead eye 62.The counterweight 53 is shown to be variable in weight by adding ortaking off one or more of the weighting parts 63. In this construction,my invention is carried out without the use of standards or otherpivotal suspension means for the counterweight.

lVhen transporting the crane or derrick constructed in accordance withmy invention, the vehicle or platform of the car on which the crane ismounted, may be made of sufiicient length to allow the boom to belowered on the same, and thus prevent the counterweight from being setin vibration which may arise while being bodily transported.

In addition to the advantages set forth above, my crane does'not requireskilled labor to operate the same, since the counterbalancing relationof the parts thereof precludes possibility of overturning or wreckingthe crane evcn'in' the hands of an inexperienced operator. Q

It will be understood that many. changes and modifications in thespecific apparatus described herein may be made without departing fronrmy invention. i

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a crane or the like, the combination of a support, a standard infixed relation thereto and carried thereby, a counterweight pivoted tosaid standard, and a boom pivoted to said counterweight.

2. In a crane or the like, the combination of a support, a standard infixed relation thereto and carried thereby, pivotal means carried bysaid standard, a counterweight base pivoted to said pivotalmeans and aboom pivotally connected with said counterweight base.

3. -In a crane or the like, the combination of a support, standardscarried thereby and in fixed relation thereto, a shaft carried by saidstandards, a counterweight base pivoted to said shaft and a boompivotally connected with said counterweight base.

4%. In a crane or the like, the combination of a support, a standardcarried thereby, a counterweight hung from the standard, a boompivotally connected with said counterweight and means for controllingthe rela tion of the free end of said boom to the point of suspension ofsaid counterweight.

5. In a crane or the like, the combination comprising a support, astandard carried thereby, a counterweight hung from the standard, a boompivotally connected with said counterweight and means for adjustablycontrolling the distance of said boom from the pivot of saidcounterweight.

6. In a crane or the like, the combination comprising a support, astandard carried thereby, a counterweight pivotally supported from thestandard, means for varying the effective counter-balance produced bysaid counterweight, a boom pivotally connected with said counterweight,and means carried by said boom for raising and lowering the load.

7. In a crane or the like, the combination of a support, a standardcarried thereby, a counterweight pivotally supported from the standard,said counterweight being constructed of two parts of variable weight tovary the eii'ective counter-balance produced by said counterweight, aboom pivotally connected with said counterweight, and means carried bysaid boom for raising and lowering the load.

8. In a crane or the like, the combination of a support, a standardcarried thereby, a-

counterweight pivotally supported from the standard, means for varyingthe counter-, balance effect produced by said counterand means carriedby said boom for raising a and lowering the load.

9. In a cranecor the like, the combination of a support, standardsmounted on said support, a shaft carried by said standards, acounterweight, means for yieldingly mounting said counterweight on saidshaft, a boom, means for yieldingly connecting one end of said boom tosaid counterweight, means for yieldingly connecting the other end ofsaid boom with said shaft, and means for raising and lowering the load.

10. In a crane or the like, the combination of a support, standards'inoiuited on said support, a shaft carried by said standards, a

counterweight base, means for suspending said counterweight base fromsaid shaft,

said suspension meagns maintaining said counterweight base substantiallyhorizontal,

withsaid boom for raising and lowerng the load and means carried by thesupport permitting the counterweight and boom to be oscillated relativeto the support.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN BROTHERS,

Witnesses S. M. BAEDERL HENRY J. Luann.

floyiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the 5 Commissioner of Eatenm,

Washington, D. Q.

